Portable watercraft



A ril 15, 1969 G. E. GOYEN PORTABLE WATER CRAFT Filed Feb.

ATTORNE YS United States Patent 3,438,074 PORTABLE WATERCRAFT Garrett E. Goyen, 1443 Hewlitt, Houston, Tex. 77018 Filed Feb. 7, 1968, Ser. No. 703,780 Int. Cl. B631) /24 US. Cl. 96 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A fiberglass deck and hull meeting to form a closed watertight outer shell with a buoyant reinforcing layer of expanded polystyrene underlying the shell, a recessed flat bottom passenger cockpit molded into the fiberglass deck, a narrowing curved bow turning upwardly from a flat slightly convex hull bottom to meet a gabled deck having an upwardly sloped central deck ridge and a fixed rudder extending vertically above, behind, and below the stern.

Background of the invention Field of the art.This invention relates generally to watercraft and in particular to a water propelled or handpropelled, lightweight portable watercraft for use in the surf. It may also be employed for amusement or utilitarian purposes on any water surface, such as by way of example, a toy.

Description of the prior art.-To the extent it is known, the prior art does not include a craft embodying the combination of structural and configuration features of the present invention.

Summary 0 the invention A relatively sharp ridge or gable along the forward deck reduces the resurfacing time required should the forward deck go below the water surface or is swamped by a wave. The slightly convex bottom and the over-all contour of the curved bow of the craft produce an inherent tendency in the craft to ride over the surf or other water turbulence. A fixed rudder which extends above, behind, and below the stern as well as along a portion of the deck of the craft provides added stability and maneuverability in rough surf. An amidships generally flat bottomed passenger recess effects proper distribution of weight and adds to the maneuverability of the craft. The lightweight, reinforced construction provides a safe, easily portaged and easily maneuvered craft. A massive, slightly curved, on the sides, and generally blunt stern area is responsive to wave action that tends to propel the craft when it is used for surfing.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the watercraft of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the watercraft of the present invention including a section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the watercraft of the present invention including a section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the watercraft of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the watercraft of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation of the watercraft of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the watercraft of the present invention.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to the drawings, it is seen that the watercraft "ice of the present invention includes a hull 10 and a deck 11 meeting along a longitudinal seam line 12. The forward portion of the hull 10 and the deck 11 form a bow 13 While the aft portions meet to form a stem 14. A recess in the deck 11 provides a passenger cockpit 15. The deck of the cockpit 15 is preferably fiat to permit the operator to man the craft in either a standing, kneeling, or sitting position.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the hull 10 and deck 11 are formed of marine fiberglass comprising woven glass fibers impregnated with a polyester resin. The hull 10 and deck 11 are reinforced with an underlying layer 16 of expanded polystyrene or other suitable material. The interior of the polystyrene layer may be lined with a second layer of fiberglass for added strength; however, the laminated construction naturally increases the weight of the craft. The outer fiberglass construction provides a watertight shell while the inner polystyrene layer provides adequate structural reinforcement without any significant increase in weight. The underlying expanded polystyrene layer also insures that the craft will remain buoyant in the event of a rupture of the external shell.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the drawings the hull 10 of the craft has a generally convex, wide bottom 11a with smooth, upwardly and outwardly curved sides 17a and 17b. FIGS. 2 and 4 best illustrate the gabled design of the forward portion of the deck 11 which is formed by two generally concave surfaces 11b and 11c meeting along the ridge 17. Thus, the lower portion of the hull 10 is wider adjacent its nether surface by reason of the outwardly rounded surfaces 17a and 17b. These surfaces are integrally joined along the edge ridge 12 to the concave surfaces 11b and 11c which are smaller in width than the outwardly curved portions 17a and 17b of the hull.

The curved side surfaces 17a and 17b and convex botand maximum buoyancy. The ridge 17 is designed to reduce water drag on the bow encountered when the bow is resurfacing after having been submerged. Thus, the deck ridge 17 and the over-all shape of the hull 10 cooperate to reduce the recovery time should the bow be washed over by a wave or otherwise driven below the water level; however, the craft is designed to inhibit submerging its bow in a wave, as will be described.

FIG. 7 of the drawings illustrates the raised bow structure of the craft of the present invention. The forward tip of the how 13 comprises an upwardly and then rearwardly curved surface 13 turning back into and connecting with the ridge 17 on the top deck 11. The bow 13 is blunt on its forwardmost surface and initially curves upwardly; each side 13b and slopes inwardly, as the bow curves upwardly and as shown at 130' in FIGS. 1 and 7 to merge with the gentle upwardly curved slope in ridge 17, as represented at 17e. The merger of the bow with the ridge 17 at 17 is the highest juncture of two portions of the craft, viewing the craft from the side, throughout its longitudinal extent. Of course, the curved portion 13a of the bow is above such juncture, but the juncture of the ridge 17 and the bow represents the highest elevation where two separate portions of the craft are merged. This adds an additional desirable characteristic to the craft in that it along with the upwardly curved bow 13a better enables the craft to cut through the surf, or water. The above described high bow design tends to lift the craft over waves when the bow faces the surf and tends to keep the bow from being driven below the water level when the surf is astern. Additionally, the rising curved surface 13a and the wider bottom or nether surface 11a with the generally upwardly and inwardly sloping side surfaces 17a and 17b provide a cutting edge that tends to cut the water should the bow go down into the water and also the wider bottom provides a surface area that tends to push the bow up. The design of the craft places a large portion of the surface area of the bow above the water line, and as a result, lateral mobility and maneuverability are not sacrified to obtain the desired surfing characteristics described.

The aft portion of the craft is equipped with a fixed rudder 18 extending above, behind, and below the stren 14 and along thedeck for a distance behind the cockpit 15. The rudder 18 works with water action over the top of the deck 11 as well as that below and behind the hull 10 to stabilize and enable the craft to be maneuvered by shifting the weight of the occupant in the cockpit 15.

The craft is preferably constructed by separately molding the hull 10 and deck 11. The recessed cockpit 15 is formed during the molding of the deck 11. They are then joined along the ridge or seam 12. It will be noted that the portion 11d of the deck 11 from the cockpit 15 to the stern is convex, whereas, the portion of the deck 11 from the cockpit 15 to the bow is formed by the two convex surfaces 11b and 110, as previously described.

Several features of the craft render it particularly safe. The over-all smoothness of construction and light weight of the craft prevent it from causing injury during portage or upon striking a person in the water. The cockpit 15 may be quickly evacuated if the craft should capsize, and the expanded polystyrene aifords buoyancy even if the watertight shell should rupture. The net result is a relatively safe and dependable craft for either amusement or utilitarian functions.

The craft is propelled by a passenger occupying the cockpit 15. A double ended paddle (not illustrated) is particularly suited for propelling the craft. The amidships position of the cockpit increases the stability of the craft and permits a certain amount of maneuverability effected by shifting of the operators weight in cooperation with the rudder design as noted.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention. are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A lightweight portable watercraft comprising:

(a) ahull;

(b) a deck connected with said hull along a longitudinal seam to form a watercraft having a continuous outer shell;

(0) a layer of buoyant material underlying and reinforcing at least a portion of said outer shell;

((1) said hull having a convex wide bottom with smooth, upwardly and outwardly curved sides;

(c) said hull and deck having a bow and a stern;

(f) said bow of said deck having two concave surfaces joined along said stem with said curved sides of said hull, and meeting at their outer edge to form a ridge along said deck which slopes upwardly towards said bow;

(g) said how being 'blunt On its forwardmost surface and initially curving upwardly with each side sloping inwardly and said how curves upwardly, said how then curving rearwardly to merge with said deck ridge at a position which is the highest juncture of two portions of the craft throughout the longitudinal extent thereof; and

(h) a passenger cockpit disposed between said bow and stern.

2. The watercraft of claim 1 including a fixed rudder which extends above, behind, and below said stern and along said deck rearwardly of said cockpit.

3. The watercraft of claim 1 wherein said stern of said hull is convex and diminishes in width towards said how.

4. The watercraft of claim 1 wherein said ridge along said deck in cooperation with said convex hull tends to inhibit submergence of said watercraft should surf come over the top of said how.

5. The Watercraft of claim 1 wherein said outer shell is formed of a glass fiber saturated with a synthetic resin.

6. The watercraft of claim 1 wherein said buoyant reinforcing layer comprises expanded polystyrene.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,628,368 5/1927 Lease 9-310 3,133,294- 5/1964 Kunz 9-6 FOREIGN PATENTS 587,037 1/1959 Italy.

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner.

R. A. DORNON, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

